3 month post ablation-update

[Diamondcat]

Morning, Thankyou so much to you all for your advice. I got in touch with the arrhythmia nurses at Barts. I have now been advised that they are upping my sotalol dose , however thankfully after 6 days of afib my heart has gone back into NSR overnight. Prof Schilling has now said he will do another ablation and this will be discussed at my 3 month check up on Thursday. I am confused as to why I was never taken off my medication after my ablation as I thought this is what was meant to happen however I will find out more on Thursday. I have a very long list of questions! 😳. Trouble is I work as a teacher and I am having so much time off of work for my afib. Between just generally feeling ill with afib, hospital appts, tests, monitors, warfarin blood tests etc that I will soon get disciplined and Can’t afford to lose my job. I am indebted to the nhs who are fabulous and I cannot fault my care, but at 51 I can’t keep going on like this. I’m existing but not living. My whole life seems to be controlled by this bloody condition. X

[Hidden]

All I can say is that you are in good hands and good luck for Thursday and beyond.......

[Ianp66]

Glad you got some guidance and hopefully get some answers 👍

[BobD Volunteer]

People stay on meds for a few months to let the heart heal in peace. Apart form anticoagulataion of course which is different.

[wilsond]

Good luck on the health side.As for the discipline side ,I was in same position.

Are you in a union? If so tell your rep what you fear will happen.

Keep all letters etc from your medical team .

Take a supporter with you to any meetings.

They have a duty of care to their employee .

jedi master one of our lovely forum members had similar issues with employers,even though he works in the NHS (!)

Might help to search for his posts too.

Best wishes xxx

[Kaz747]

I’m two years post ablation and my EP has kept me on a low dose beta blocker. I also get atrial tachycardia occasionally, and has atrial flutter previously (fixed by ablation).

[colingee]

Hi I’ve been on Sotalol 80 mg morning and evening for the past seven years I do get episodes of atrial fibrillation lasting 2-4 hrs and then all of a sudden my blood pressure returns to 120/60 my pulse rate reduces to 60 and very regular but I do feel wrecked for the next 48 hours with a sore chest my cardiologist at the moment doesn’t think I need an ablation my atrial fibrillation episodes are always usually triggered by stress and when I’m stressed I have ectopics which could last for weeks and that’s when I seem to get the episodes of AFwhich are very scary as everyone knows because my blood pressure and pulse rate become erratic high and a regular and I get very bad chest pains at the same time I am a carer as my wife needs end-of-life care and who has very advanced dementia and it’s a hard life coping although we have a good care package I’m here 24 seven hence the stress levels are very high and hence I think I get the atrial fibrillation I’m on the usual medication, anticoagulants,statins Sotalol and lisinopril the lockdown has Obviously for everyone increased our stress levels anyway take care Hope this bit of information helps by the way I’m 78 and very fit and always have been Colin

[ralft]

My experience with Sotalol is somewhat like that of colingee, But, I have h ad 2 ablations but neither remained effective for the long run. My big lesson with sotalol (which I learned the hard way) is to avoid taking any metal bearing supplements with sotalol. I was having frequent episodes and my cardio increased my dosage but before I went that route I discovered the metal concern . I was taking magnesium and a multivitamin and I learned to not take them with sotalol but to wait several hours after my morning dose. That was more than a year ago and since then all my episodes of AF have been very short and unnoticeable. My pacemaker has confirmed this.

[Evefay]

I was recently put on sotalol while in the hospital with afib and it converted me to normal rythm. I had my ablation in Feb of 2018 and have had 3 episodes of afib since. I was never taken off my meds and I was told in the hospital that I could not have another ablation because of my aflutter (?) I am told I have aortic valve stenosis and heart failure. I just don't know what will happen next. I am doing good for now on the sotalol.

[Easternmost]

Sorry to hear of your setback - how are you doing now?

[Diamondcat in reply to Easternmost]

Hi things are much better Thankyou. It’s almost 4 months since my ablation and although I’m still on medication my Heart has calmed down and is doing as it should. Fingers crossed it continues. How about you?

[Easternmost in reply to Diamondcat]

I’m glad things have settled down. Are you still going to have a second ablation? I’m doing okay thank you - I don’t take anything for granted, but I feel like my energy levels have returned and much more like my old self. I had my 3 month follow up with Barts and things are as they should be. Grateful for each normal day! Best wishes.